Hotel & Staff/Team
‘Would definitely recommend’ - July 2025
I would totally recommend this hotel. It is very clean and fresh feeling. There is opportunity to sit out and look over beautiful views and easy walks make a walk after dinner appealing. It is a really relaxed place and we had a very enjoyable stay.
‘We would visit again.’ - September 2025
This is a beautiful hidden gem of a hotel. We only stayed for one night but we were made to feel most welcome by all the staff. The room was spotless and food delicious. We walked round the grounds and onto the Downs. We would not have any hesitation in recommending this hotel.
‘Seven nights mid summer break away’ - August 2025
A perfect seven night stay. The house/ hotel was lovely and so well looked after. The staff were very attentive and helpful. The food was great both breakfasts, lunch and evening meals. The room was perfect. The location offers so much more than expected for walking, cycling and visiting.
Charming hotel. In fact a hidden gem. Stayed here en route to meet family. Found it Comfortable. And well appointed bedroom and bathroom. Quiet country location. The staff were Great . Really good food. Would stay again. Far better than a chain offering.
Wedding
‘Our Wedding’ - August 2025
We got married at The Upper House, August 2025 and can not fault the service, the venue, the staff. The food is amazing, everything was just perfect. The wedding team were incredible from the moment we met them, nothing was to much trouble and all the staff on the day couldn't do enough for us and our guests. It's perfect for a smaller wedding, the grounds are beautiful and the bedrooms are lovely.
We got married at The Upper House on May 17th, and we truly couldn’t have been happier with how everything went. It was the most perfect day from start to finish. Ellie and the team at The Upper House were incredible, not just on the day itself, but throughout the entire process. From the moment we booked the date, they were helpful, responsive, and genuinely invested inmaking our day special. No question was too small, and they handled every detail perfectly, including accommodating all of our guest's dietary requirements.
So many of our guests commented on how delicious the food was throughout the day. Everything was beautifully presented and tasted amazing.
The venue itself is stunning. The grounds are immaculately kept, and even before adding any personal touches or decor, the setting already feels magical. We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather, and it honestly felt like a dream. We loved being outside so much that we didn't want to head inside for the evening reception as originally planned! Ellie and the team were incredibly flexible and made it feel effortless to move our DJ and saxophonist outside. It was so seamless, you’d think it had been planned that way all along. We eventually moved back indoors around 10pm to finish the evening, and everything transitioned perfectly.
The rooms at The Upper House are lovely, and our guests really enjoyed their stay. The buffet-style breakfast the next morning just with our wedding guests was a perfect, relaxed way to reflect on the day and spend more time with everyone. The bridal suite was also a huge bonus. It was spacious and well-equipped, with beautiful mirrors and an extra sink—ideal for our makeup artist and hair stylist on the morning of the wedding. Getting ready with my bridal party in such a gorgeous space made the whole experience even more special.
We honestly wish we could do it all over again. It was everything we hoped for and more, and we can’t thank Ellie and the team at The Upper House enough for giving us the most unforgettable day.
The Pickings xx
‘Fantastic wedding experience’ - September 2025
Fantastic, brilliant & superb. We went for a wedding & they provided a meal in the conservatory area which was excellent, the food was really top notch & service was efficient & friendly. Then we had an evening reception in another room with DJ & it was fantastic, bar service was efficient again. The room was brilliant, particularly the bathroom & we had a balcony.
Restaurant/Lunch/Sunday Lunch/Afternoon Tea/Evening Meal
‘A wonderful relaxing hotel’ - October 2025
We wanted one night away to celebrate our anniversary, so didn't really want to travel too far. This was about 50 minutes away but completely different countryside to the moorlands, where we live! Beautiful as you drive up to it, with carefully tended gardens looking gorgeous with autumnal colours.
We found an 'autumn break' deal, which appeared excellent value...it was just that. My husband had arranged flowers to be delivered and in our room on arrival (after all these years!!!) and the hotel had upgraded us to best room in the hotel - couldn't believe it. It was brilliant. The food was lovely - not pretentious thankfully, as husband likes a nice plate of food. All reasonably
priced too. Good selection of wine. Very relaxing lounge. Staff were friendly. Breakfast excellent. The décor and ambience were real winners for us. Definitely will be going back in springtime - there is a National Trustwoodland literally at the back of this and we had a wonderful five mile walk in glorious sunshine and want to see the bluebells next spring.
‘Seven nights mid summer break away’ - August 2025
A perfect seven night stay. The house/ hotel was lovely and so well looked after. The staff were very attentive and helpful. The food was great both breakfasts, lunch and evening meals. The room was perfect. The location offers so much more than expected for walking, cycling and visiting.
‘Fantastic venue with truly wonderful staff’ - January 2025
What a wonderful place! I have been bringing my parents for lunch on a Friday for the last couple of years and I would just like to say how beautiful both the surroundings and food are but most of all how fantastic the staff are! They are lovely and welcoming and can not do enough for you.
‘A Really Friendly and well Located Hotel’ - July 2025
We stayed here for 4 nights with 6 friends to explore the area. This hotel is perfect for that! All the staff were friendly and helpful; nothing was too much trouble. The rooms were well furnished and clean, and ours had a bath with shower. Tea/coffee and water all supplied. There are terraces and gardens to relax on and walk round.
A huge advantage is the location. The main pottery factories and museums are about 15 minutes away: Wedgwood is fantastic with a factory tour, beautiful restaurant/café and other shops around the quadrangle. Gladstone pottery is a very well presented museum. Also Trentham Gardens and shopping village is close by. The meals at the hotel were excellent, with good choices at both breakfast and dinner. We would thoroughly recommend this hotel.
‘Lovely family meal to celebrate Fathers Day’ - June 2025
We took the whole family to the Upper House for Sunday Lunch to celebrate Fathers day for Dad/Grandad. We are local to the hotel and have been many times before, so it’s easy to take the beautiful building, gardens and views for granted, but in June it really is spectacular.
As always the food was superb and the service was excellent. It’s not easy to serve quality food efficiently to a large party, but the Upper House manage it with a smile on their faces. Thanks to all the staff for making our day so special, the whole family love it here.
‘Lovely cosy Sunday lunch’ - November 2024
Lovely cosy Sunday lunch for my husbands birthday mentioned it only on the phone and a birthday card and two glasses of Prosecco were waiting for us it’s such a friendly place fantastic food good quality good value for money and very happy smiley staff would highly recommend.
Events
‘Corporate Christmas party event’ - January 2025
Beautiful venue, excellent service, the staff are very helpful and efficient. Organising team business events can be difficult and time consuming but working with Jo and her team make it a seamless and stress-free experience. Would recommend.
‘Perfect New Years Eve’ - January 2025
We attended the New Year’s Eve party and also choose to stay over. Check in was seamless and our room was spotless along with the whole of the hotel
The New Year’s Eve event was extremely well organised all staff worked hard to create the perfect evening.
Food as usual at the hotel was outstanding and the DJ for the night had everyone up dancing all night. Always a sign of a good DJ
Breakfast again the next morning was perfect and cooked fresh to order. Good choice of cereals, juices, croissants and 2 toasters to make your own toast. Good range of cooked breakfast as well.
‘70th Birthday - an evening at the Upper House that I will never forget’ - November 2024
I was so impressed with everybody and everything at the Upper House and so were my 66 guests. I was amazed that what I envisioned in my head became a lovely reality. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff who did everything that they could to make the evening a success, including managing the complicated timings necessary to make all of the different elements work together. The food was excellent and the service impeccable. A special thank you must go to Jo, the Events Manager, who guided me through the months of preparation, and Hayden, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Returning to the lovely Honeymoon Suite, overlooking the beautiful gardens, after a night of dancing was a wonderful way to end the evening. A leisurely breakfast the following morning with friends in the traditional Victorian morning room, completed a perfect 24 hours at the Upper House and an amazing celebration. Thank you.
North Staffs Nuffield Health Annual General Meeting - July 2024
We held our hospital Annual General Meeting (AGM) at The Upper House Hotel in June on a very sunny pleasant evening. We had pre-drinks outside in the very beautiful courtyard and proceeded with an evening meal. We have used The Upper House Hotel several times now for this event and they never fail to deliver, the staff are always at hand and happy to help. Jo the Events Manager always has everything in order and is very well organised. The hotel is an amazing venue and has several rooms to choose from although we only used the Woodlands Suite on this occasion. I would definitely recommend this venue for any business events and sure we will be using them again in the very near future - thank you.
Baby Showers
My friend organised my baby shower here and it was brilliant. The afternoon tea was very fresh and tasty. They catered for the many dietary requirement’s. The room looked great and the staff were friendly. Special shout out to Caitlin! Would highly recommend.
Service/Team
‘First class service’ - August 2025
Third time visiting the hotel. Great venue for us travelling south and close to m6. Consistently excellent service from arriving to departure. All staff are so helpful and quality of dinner and breakfast were first class.
‘A very pleasant place to stay’ - July 2025
I stayed here to break up a long journey from Scotland to Southern England. The room was comfortable and spotlessly clean. Service was friendly and very helpful. Food at dinner was nicely cooked and there was a good variety on the menu - I enjoyed it, and again service was very good. The hotel is set in very pleasant grounds, with a nice garden. Very much recommended, especially as room rates seem to be quite reasonable.
‘Beautiful relaxing place to stay’ - July 2025
Fabulous place to stay. Excellent service and food. Room has so many extra touches …even a jaccuzzi bath. Great fresh breakfast overlooking beautiful gardens. Can’t recommend highly enough.
The upper house is in a beautiful location with easy access to Stoke and the many outlying districts, including the potteries. It was our first visit and we must say it was beautiful. Friendly staff clean comfortable rooms, exquisite food and a good section of beers and wines. The service from the catering staff was excellent and after a beautiful dinner it was great to walk around the grounds my wife and I could not find any negatives and would certainly recommend this beautiful place to everyone. We felt that it was certainly value for money in view of the quality of service we received. 10/10
‘Charming, beautiful, genteel’ - April 2025
The Upper House in Barlaston is a country house hotel originally built as a residence for the Wedgwood Family in the 1840s. Many famous people (including Darwin) were guests of the family and have stayed in the house. After the last of the Wedgewood’s left the property in the 1930s it was owned by the council and used for various public services until the later part of the 20th century. Having then fallen into disrepair by the 1990s, the current owners have sympathetically restored it . The building and grounds are charming and one imagines haw a guest of an English country house in the 1800s would have felt (I was half expecting the three Ks of a traditional breakfast - kidneys, kedgeree, and kippers before riding out for a spot of shooting…) Anyhow, the rooms are well appointed and clean, tastefully decorated very much in the style of an English country house with beautiful views across the valley. Atmosphere is quiet and genteel. The food is excellent and the staff friendly and attentive. I’ve stayed in many hotels and this is one of my favourites.
On our way home , from holiday , we found this gem of a place. It's spotlessly clean, professionally run, the food is great, it's in a lovely quiet location and we weren't at all surprised it gets used as a wedding venue. Seems to us that this is great value for money at present.
Location
‘A Really Friendly and well Located Hotel’ - July 2025
We stayed here for 4 nights with 6 friends to explore the area. This hotel is perfect for that! All the staff were friendly and helpful; nothing was too much trouble. The rooms were well furnished and clean, and ours had a bath with shower. Tea/coffee and water all supplied. There are terraces and gardens to relax on and walk round.
A huge advantage is the location. The main pottery factories and museums are about 15 minutes away: Wedgewood is fantastic with a factory tour, beautiful restaurant/cafe and other shops around the quadrangle. Gladstone pottery is a very well presented museum. Also Trentham Gardens and shopping village is close by. The meals at the hotel were excellent, with good choices at both breakfast and dinner. We would thoroughly recommend this hotel.
We stayed at the upper house for two weeks, this was our second time at this property and we’re so happy that we’d already booked for 2026 before we left. Everything from the location, grounds and staff was perfect for us. Easy access to the motorway, A34 & A500 for trips to Wales the Lakes and the Peak District. If you stay for 1 night or 14 you won’t be disappointed.
The Upper House is a few minutes from the M6 and the perfect location as a stopover between north and south. There are a lot of hotels in this area because of the location, and one of my regulars has priced themselves out so I tried this hotel for the first time. I booked a small single room and was pleased to find a double bed with a shared balcony. Dinner and breakfast were excellent. I went for a stroll in the gardens which are beautiful, and it has an interesting history which the owners are keen to share with guests. It's a smallish family owned and obviously cared for property. I will definitely go back.
‘Great value for money, beautiful location great food clean comfortable room rooms 10/10' - May 2025
The upper house is in a beautiful location with easy access to Stoke and the many outlying districts, including the potteries. It was our first visit and we must say it was beautiful. Friendly staff clean comfortable rooms, exquisite food and a good section of beers and wines. The service from the catering staff was excellent and after a beautiful dinner it was great to walk around the grounds my wife and I could not find any negatives and would certainly recommend this beautiful place to everyone. We felt that it was certainly value for money in view of the quality of service we received. 10/10
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